Enamel plays an important role in keeping teeth protected from injury and decay. Unfortunately, some children don't develop enamel properly while their teeth are growing—this is known as a developmental enamel defect. This can happen due to genetics, malnutrition, illnesses during pregnancy and even as a side effect of medication taken while pregnant.

Children with a weakened or missing enamel layer are more at risk of tooth decay, which makes good oral hygiene even more important. Read on to learn three signs that your child's teeth may not be properly developing enamel and what you can do to maintain your child's dental health.

1. Your Child's Teeth Have Yellow Splotches

Tooth discoloration can be completely normal after eating food. If your child's yellow splotches don't go away after brushing, however, then it may be a sign of weak enamel. The enamel layer of a tooth covers the dentin layer, and dentin is naturally colored yellow. If the enamel in the area is thin, then the yellow color of the dentin will show through. In kids who have developmental enamel defects, this is most often seen in the middle two upper incisors. They're the very first teeth to grow, so they're susceptible to developmental defects.

2. The Surface of Your Child's Teeth Has a Mottled Texture

In addition to the yellow discoloration, a mottled texture can also be a sign of weak enamel. Enamel is produced by cells called ameloblasts, and sometimes these cells die off or stop producing enamel when children have a developmental enamel defect. Surrounding ameloblasts may continue to produce enamel unhindered. This results in microscopic craters all along the tooth's surface, giving the tooth a mottled appearance. These craters provide an excellent place for decay-causing bacteria to hide, which is why excellent oral hygiene is important for children who have developmental enamel defects.

3. Your Child Frequently Complains of Tooth Sensitivity

One of the functions of the dentin layer is sensing pressure, temperature, and pain. It's filled with tiny canals that lead directly to the nerve at the root of the tooth. When the enamel layer is very thin due do a developmental defect, it makes the tooth much more sensitive to temperature changes. As a result, your child may experience pain when consuming foods that are very hot or very cold. If your child frequently complains of sensitivity, it may be due to a thin enamel layer.

If you think that your child has thin enamel, schedule an appointment with a family dentist in your area. Weak enamel makes it much easier for cavities to form in the tooth, so your child will always need to maintain excellent dental hygiene. Visiting a family dentist regularly for checkups and cleaning is a part of that. Additionally, the family dentist can recommend treatments that can protect a tooth regardless of the strength of its enamel, such as placing a veneer or crown over the enamel in order to safeguard the underlying tooth from decay-causing bacteria.